Saturday, 21 June 2014

Nadeshiko League Tenth Round

Okayama Yunogo Belle raced into a three-goal lead at home to JEF United, who last week recovered well from a two-goal deficit to win against Iga. Belle, however, are made of stronger stuff, and although Sugasawa Yuika recorded her eighth goal of the season, it was too late and Belle went top of the table overnight.

Matsuoka Miki also scored her eighth of the season to open the scoring, Yamane Erina once again failing to deal with a ball into the box, dropping it straight to the feet of Matsuoka who couldn't miss. Asano Miki scored the second, easily outrunning the injured Kawamura Mari who was immediately replaced by Matsuura Nagisa. Arimachi Saori calmly slotted home the third, off a fine through pass from Miyama Aya. All three goals came in the first thirty minutes. JEF United's sole reply came after poor defensive play from Belle in the 76th minute, leaving Sugasawa with an easy finish.

Belle play the final game of the weekend next Sunday away to Iga, with JEF at home to Kibi.

Iga surrendered a two-goal lead to JEF United last weekend, but were completely shut out this week by Urawa, who retook the lead at the top of the table with a straightforward win in rainy Kumagaya. With just over half an hour played Kira Chinatsu scored her fifth goal of the season, with two Iga players culpable in not being sharp enough, as first Dozono and then Kira took control when the opposition had chances to deal with the problem. Urawa's second didn't arrive until eight minutes from time, a rare goal for Kishikawa Natsuki, striking home from the edge of the area after a pull back from Saito Akane.

Iga look certain to finish in the bottom four, and their next match at home to Belle represents another difficult challenge. Urawa play Saitama in the local derby.

In April INAC Kobe suffered their second consecutive loss of the season to Vegalta Sendai and today they were determined to recover their form, though Vegalta themselves have not been impressive since that victory, and have slipped down the table.

With recent trouble in defence, INAC made a move to bring in Australian international Clare Polkinghorne on loan from Brisbane Roar FC, and she started today alongside Kai in the centre of the defence.

Takara had an early shot for Vegalta as both sides started quite sluggishly in the damp conditions. Kyokawa had the best chance for INAC Kobe in the twelfth minute when she got clear of Takahashi but struck her shot against the crossbar, and then missed with the followup.

Minamiyama Chiaki also hit the woodwork in the 24th minute as INAC started to come more into the game, while earlier at the other end Polkinghorne made an excellent tackle to deny Vegalta Sendai. She was however at fault in the 38th minute when poor control resulted in her being dispossessed by Ono and following a strong run forward with the ball, she played it to Takara who gave it to Yasumoto on the right and her cross was headed home expertly by Ono Hitomi. Entering additional time a Watanabe cross which had to be clawed away by Saita was the closest INAC came to equalising in the first half.

Good attacking play down the right led to some early chances for INAC as the second half began, though Vegalta held firm. There was little action for the next while, and in the 56th minute Noguchi Ayaka came on for Miyake Shiori as INAC made their first change. Miyake had been moved to right back to make room for Polkinghorne in the middle, though it would perhaps have been more prudent to retain as much of their normal shape as possible and change more gradually.

Nakajima came on for Tanaka in the 63rd minute as INAC made their second change, hoping to wrestle back control of the midfield which Vegalta had begun to dominate. Nakajima fed Kyokawa with a fine pass to the right but Kyokawa's shot wasn't her best and Saita did well to save.

With Vegalta looking more likely to add to their lead, it was Takase who was the heroine again for INAC Kobe, as she slid on the wet surface to poke home, Watanabe again finding her in the box as she did last weekend.

Yamamoto and Takara came off for Vegalta Sendai, with Sakai and Inoue coming on to replace them. Nakada Ayu also made her entrance, as INAC made their final change, the young and industrious Masuya coming off. It was however INAC's oldest player who scored, Sawa Homare heading in a Nakajima free kick to give the home side a 2-1 lead with just over ten minutes to play. Mere minutes later the three points were sealed as Takase scored her second of the game, Noguchi supplying the powerful forward in the box, who claimed the ball well before chipping home.

Koyama Kie came on to replace Ono Hitomi for Vegalta Sendai, their final change of the game. They made some more chances for themselves as the game came to a close, but seemed to have lost all conviction and confidence in themselves. Having led in this and the previous five games, from a possible fifteen points the Miyagi side has picked up only two.

Vegalta next play Beleza in Sendai and are in a perilous position. INAC Kobe move smartly up the table and away from danger and next Saturday take on Niigata away.

Kibi took the lead in this important tie against Saitama but were simply outclassed in the second half and ended the game losing by an embarrassing 7-2 scoreline. Azami Rie and Arakawa Eriko both scored twice, with Ito Kanako, Suzuki Yuri and Suzuki Kaoruko also scoring once. Hamamoto Marin scored the lone second half reply for Kibi, who are now surely resigned to relegation, with little chance of improvement in the Exciting Series, in which they are almost certain to face Saitama again. For Saitama, this was their second win of the season, both coming against Kibi, and they move level on points with Iga. They next host Urawa in the Saitama derby, with Kibi away to JEF United.

Beleza crushed Niigata and move level on points but ahead on goal difference, the Tokyo side now sitting third after a disappointing recent run. Shimada Chiaki scored the opener after thirteen minutes, finishing off after Ichitani in the Niigata goal failed to collect a Momiki cross. Momiki scored one for herself on 29 minutes direct from a corner, Ichitani again at fault. Six minutes later Beleza had a third, Sumida Rin taking a Shimada pass and slotting the ball home with composure beyond her years.

Veteran Kobayashi Yayoi came on with an hour played and went on to score her first two goals of the season, the first a fine right-footed finish and the second a header from an Ariyoshi cross.

Beleza travel north to Sendai to play Vegalta Sendai, whom they beat 2-0 earlier in the season. Niigata play INAC Kobe, to whom they lost 2-0 on the following day, and they will need to regain their form to ensure they don't drop into the bottom four.